Computer Scientist
Adobe is hiring a Computer Scientist in San Jose, United States. It pays $121k-$239k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Adobe.
Level's read on this job
- Builds AI ●●●● is how Level rates this role: the job is building AI systems.
- The posting mentions PyTorch, Lightroom and Photoshop among its tools and skills.
- Adobe has 280 other open roles on Level.
AI in this role
Researches and develops next-generation AI-powered camera applications and computer vision features.
The opportunity
Adobe's EPG (Emerging Products Group), also known as the Nextcam team, is seeking Computer Scientists with graduate training or equivalent experience in computer vision, modern AI, or computational photography, as well as Software Development Engineers with expertise in AI models, to join our team in San Jose, California..
This is a relatively new team, led by VP and Fellow Marc Levoy, that is exploring next-generation product opportunities centered around the concept of a camera app empowered by AI, computer vision, and computational photography. The team also develops technologies and features for Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and other imaging products, with the opportunity for broad impact. As examples of what we work on, the team recently launched an AI-based feature for removing window reflections from photographs; as described in this blog. Earlier in 2024 we launched an AI model that automatically adjusts the tone and color of photographs, as described in this blog.
Finally, in June 2025 we launched Project Indigo, an experimental camera app for iPhone that combines computational photography and AI, and that deliberately explores the boundaries of what is possible in a mobile camera. The app offers full manual controls, a more natural ("SLR-like") look, and the highest image quality that computational photography can provide - in both JPEG and raw formats. It also introduces new photographic experiences not available in other camera apps. The app, which is available for free on the App Store, went viral after launch, garnering millions of downloads and earning broad positive coverage in the tech press. Here is a blog about the app.
If you are passionate about photography and AI, and if you enjoy full-stack challenges – from research to development to productization, leading to broad product impact that puts magical new imaging features in the hands of millions of users, this is your opportunity to work with a great team who is changing the photography industry.
What you’ll do
Our team works like a startup inside Adobe, making this a unique “best of both worlds” opportunity. If you’d love the flexibility and personal impact of joining an exciting startup but also dream of having the deep resources and global launch stage that only an industry leader like Adobe can offer, this is where you belong.
Depending on your skill set, you can have a strong input on the direction of products, researching and developing new computational photography algorithms, and deploying them in Indigo, Lightroom, Photoshop, and other products.
Alternatively, you can work with researchers to develop and tune AI-heavy features for photography and video, including translating image processing code from Python into C++ for integration into Indigo, Camera Raw, or other codebases, or into CoreML, ONNX etc. for deployment on MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android devices.
What you need to succeed
M.S., or PhD degree in Computer Science or a related field.
Experience with computer vision, computational photography, and/or modern AI applied to these fields.
An interest in applying your skills to problems in photography, videography and imaging defined broadly.
A plus would be experience in photography and videography, including having a portfolio of your own work.
Strong programming skills (including C/C++ and Python).
Experience with AI tools (e.g. PyTorch, CoreML, LiteRT, ONNX).
A plus would be knowledge of the iOS or Android platforms and mobile app development environments.
Another plus would be experience in programming on GPUs or other hardware accelerators.
Enthusiasm for working with AI coding agents while maintaining high-quality.
About Adobe
Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe’s industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.
Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We’re on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. At Adobe, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. The next big idea could be yours.
Let’s Adobe together
At Adobe, we believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. Learn more about Adobe life, including our values and culture, focus on people, purpose and community, Adobe for All, comprehensive benefits programs, the stories we tell, the customers we serve, and how you can help us advance our mission of empowering everyone to create.
Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.
Adobe aims to make our Careers website and recruiting process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email accommodations@adobe.com.
AI Use Guidelines for Interviews:
Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.
At Adobe, we empower employees to innovate with AI — and we look for candidates eager to do the same. As part of the hiring experience, we provide clear guidance on where AI is encouraged during the process and where it’s restricted during live interviews. See how we think about AI in the hiring experience.
Expected Pay Range:
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $120,700 - $238,600 annually. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process. In California, the pay range for this position is $164,800 - $238,600At Adobe, for sales roles starting salaries are expressed as total target compensation (TTC = base + commission), and short-term incentives are in the form of sales commission plans. Non-sales roles starting salaries are expressed as base salary and short-term incentives are in the form of the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).
In addition, certain roles may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of a new hire equity award.
State-Specific Notices:
California:
Fair Chance Ordinances
Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and “fair chance” ordinances.
Colorado:
Application Window Notice
If this role is open to hiring in Colorado (as listed on the job posting), the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time, in compliance with Colorado pay transparency regulations. If this role does not have Colorado listed as a hiring location, no specific application window applies, and the posting may close at any time based on hiring needs.
Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Legal Notice
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
How we rate this
Computer Scientist at Adobe rates 90 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Walk me through a computer vision problem you solved, from raw data to a deployed model.
- Tell me about a project where artificial intelligence was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where computational photography was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where software development was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used PyTorch in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Computer vision, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Photography, Software Development, and PyTorch. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.
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